Dance Class for ages 3+

Quality Instruction

Our classes are laid back and fun, but we are serious about helping each child become his or her own personal best. Our staff is certified to teach in all styles of dance from Dance Masters of America. Click to learn more about our classes.

Nurturing Environment

FDW provides a safe, fun, nurturing environment . We teach that hard work produces results and we help our dancers to achieve the genuine self-esteem that comes with mastery of technique. Click to learn more about our studio & policies.

Proven Success

FDW is proud to have helped many dancers find success on a professional level. Broadway and Disney World, to Carnival Cruise Lines our dancers our performing all over the world. Click to read more about out student accomplishments.

Performance Opportunities

FDW students perform year round throughout southwest Florida in charity events, competitions, and of course in our annual Showtime Production. Click learn about performance opportunities.

About FDW

A fun, family-friendly, nurturing environment, where the experience is positive and the quality shows!

New students are always welcome for either recreational or career training.

Susan (Labousier) Kickbush & Michelle (Labousier) Mandile are the mother/daughter team who founded the Florida Dance Workshop in 1991. FDW quickly became the forerunner in dance education and has repeatedly been named Charlotte County’s Best Performing Unit and voted Best Dance Studio by the Charlotte Sun.

Florida Dance Workshop is a place where the efforts, abilities, and varied talents of all students are respected by their teacher, and all fellow dancers. It is our goal to make classes and rehearsals fun, but we are serious about helping each child become his or her own personal best. We teach that hard work produces results and we help our dancers to achieve the genuine self-esteem that comes with mastery of technique. These important lessons also apply to life’s future challenges. We believe in seeking, not perfection, but excellence from all students, with the understanding that it be appropriate to their age level, ability, and interest. Florida Dance Workshop will never aspire to be the biggest school, but we will always strive to be the best!

Our Staff

Holly Legare

Owner, Instructor, Choreographer, FDW Alumna

Holly is an award winning performer who received her dance training at Florida Dance Workshop under the direction of Michelle Labousier Mandile, since the age of 4. In 2016 she became the owner of FDW after moving back to Florida from Houston, Texas. While away from FDW, she continued her performance education at Florida Atlantic University, the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, and the Cirque La Vie Company in Houston Texas. Holly holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and holds certificates from the National Strength & Conditioning Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. Holly is board certified by test to teach Ballet, Jazz, Acrobatics and Tap from the prestigious International Dance Masters of America and has completed Teachers Training School Level 1 in Buffalo New York. Holly is excited to be back to her roots, and looks forward to continuing the legacy and traditions passed down from the very first FDW in 1978.

Michelle Mandile

Artistic Director, Former Owner, Instructor, Choreographer

Michelle is an award winning choreographer/ teacher who has over 25 years of teaching experience. Michelle literally grew up in her mother’s dance studio, Franklin Dance Workshop, In the Boston area. She has trained 1000s of dancers, many of which have embarked on professional careers in dance, such as dancers on Broadway, Disney, Cruise Ships, Professional Sports Teams, Movies, and Television. Her students have won numerous Competition Titles, and top awards, both regionally and nationally. They have also won many college/university dance scholarships. Her Choreography has been recognized by the National Foundation for the Arts, and she was the official choreographer for the Miss Teen USA Florida pageant 2 years in a row. Michelle not only trained the studios new owner, but the rest of the staff as well. She is certified by test to teach in all styles of dance by the prestigious Dance Masters of America. Michelle has received training in prevention of injury to the dancer and attended dance teachers training school through the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston. She continues the legacy of over 50 years of dance passed on through her mother, and Florida Dance Workshop’s founder, professional dancer, Susan Labousier Kickbush.

Andréa Popielarz

Instructor, Choreographer, FDW Alumna

Andrea is an award winning performer/choreographer who grew up in FDW training under Michelle Labousier Mandile. She earned numerous top scores as a performer, including 1st overall highest score of the day soloist, held lead roles in productions, including performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and has led FDW students in the same direction. Her choreography has been recognized and awarded top judges awards throughout Florida. Andréa was the recipient of a full dance Scholarship to Franklin Pearce University, and is a board certified member of Dance Master’s of America and has passed Module 1 of Acrobatic Arts Teacher Training. She has been a teacher with FDW for over 10 years and the proud mother of 4 beautiful children.

Margeaux Vallee

Hip Hop Teacher, Choreographer

We are excited to add Margaeux Valle to our teaching staff! Margaeux has been teaching Hip hop all over South Florida. Her passion for dance started at the age of 3, when she started taking classes in Boston. Margaeux has studied with world renowned choreographers all over Boston, Florida and LA. She can be seen as a featured dancer in commercials for Fiat, Tru TV, Panasonic, & American Apparel. Ms. Valle performed in music videos for Pitbul, Adrienne Bailon, & South Beach Tow in Miami. While living in LA for a year, she accomplished working with artists such as Wiz Kalifah, Kalin and Myles, Lil Debbie, Simon Rex & , and a film called “We Are Your Friends” starring Zack Efron. After attending Florida Atlantic University for Marketing, she relocated to the southwest coast of Florida and is excited to share her passion for dance with FDW students and working on projects in the area.

Try a Free Class

Your first class is always free! If you'd like to try a class, let us know!

Testimonials

April of 2013, my 3 daughters and I made the switch to FDW. We were so happy we found not only a studio that teaches quality dance curriculum, but also cares about their students, teaches them life lessons, treats them like family and believes in and encourages them!

Michelle and the other teachers welcomed my family with open arms and went out of their way to get them ready for the upcoming Showtime production. My heart was so full as I watched the balloons fall on my girls in the finale, my girls were so happy! I knew this was the kind of environment I wanted my children to be a part of.

I am so thankful to Michelle and all the teachers for giving my girls this opportunity to make great memories, learn life lessons and be able to take their dance experience and apply it to all walks of life as happy, focused and determined girls ready to pursue their goals!

I was a member of FDW from 2nd grade in 1993 to high school graduation in 2004. I remember how much I looked forward to going to dance after school. I took classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and pointe.

I was the most excited to have the opportunity to dance with the Company and eventually the Ovations Competition Team. Looking back at my time in the studio, I built everlasting friendships, leaned discipline and grace from an amazing teacher, and competed across the state. To this day, I wish I was still taking dance a couple nights a week to stretch. I also miss things like the Rudolph game, the big reveal of costumes for the year, and of course, Showtime!

I danced at FDW from age 3 to age 18. Dance has always been a major part of my life and a day rarely goes by that I’m not reminded of my days with FDW.

Now I am working as a resident doctor at USF. Although my day to day life has nothing to do with dance, I strongly believe that the skills I gained at FDW made me the person I am. Dancing taught me discipline, dedication, team work, attention to detail, creativity, patience, confidence, and compassion. During my interviews for medical school and residency dance was something my interviewers always asked me about because it set me apart and made me well rounded.

I wouldn’t trade my time at FDW for anything and consider Michelle, Susan and everyone at FDW my second family.

Florida Dance Workshop taught me teamwork, self-confidence, resilience, and diligence. Thank you, Michelle and Susan, for fostering not only the technical skills that create excellent dancers, but also the strength of character that creates great leaders.

Florida Dance Workshop was my second home growing up, and still to this day, I always feel a sense of family walking through the doors. Without Michelle, Susan and all of the wonderful training I received I would not be where I am today. I made lifelong friendships and connections throughout my years at FDW and will always cherish those memories and my years spent in the dance studio.

LATEST NEWS

We hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and wonderful New Year! Big Congratulations to FDW for WINNING 1st place Charlotte County’s “Best Performing Unit” again this year. Wow, this year is already flying by! Showtime ’18’ our 27th anniversary is just around the corner! Attendance is so important now as well as at home practice-> Continue reading January 2018 Dance News

Hi Workshop families! The Christmas Parade is already here, Saturday Dec 9 at Charlotte High in Punta Gorda! Drop off times are: Ovations and Company members 10:30AM, kids 7 & up please arrive at 11:15AM, 3-6 yrs please arrive by 11:45AM.. Be sure to drop off your child at the High School with us, then-> Continue reading December 2017 Dancenews

Hello FDW families! It’s November already! This year is flying by just like the others! We will be starting your routines for Showtime 2018 shortly! Keep practicing, you all look fantastic! Remember, SHOWTIME IS JUNE 2nd & 3rd! THE FIRST SATURDAY AND SUNDAY IN JUNE AS ALWAYS! If anyone happens to go to Orlando over-> Continue reading November 2017 Dancenews

We hope you’re recovering from Hurricane Irma’s visit! We are feeling blessed to have come out unscathed, (unlike Hurricane Charley) and hope and pray that all our dance families are getting back to some sense of a normal life! Every dancer is welcome to make up a class by coming to an extra class either 1 level-> Continue reading October 2017 Dance News

Attention Dance Family: We will be closed on Thursday, September 7th and Friday, September 8th in preparation for the upcoming storm. As of now, we plan to have class as scheduled on Monday, September 11th. Please remember we follow the Charlotte County Public School calendar and will cancel dance only when school has also been-> Continue reading Hurricane Irma Update

Hey Ladies….Looking for a fun way to get in shape? Beginning October 1st on Mondays from 6:45- 7:45 we will be offering an adult only class just for you. Create an account and register here: https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/floridadanceworkshop

We are beyond excited to announce that Clint Maddox Thompson is home at FDW this month between his last show of Peter Pan, and his upcoming National Tour of Wizard of Oz! Clint will be teaching a variety of classes in September!! We are thrilled to have him bring his College as well as Professional-> Continue reading FDW Alumni Clint Maddox to guest teach soon!

FDW is celebrating 27 years in Charlotte County this season!!! Welcome back! Welcome new FDW members! We are looking forward to another great season of dance. We have exciting plans for Showtime 2018, although Showtime 2017 will be hard to beat! Please remember to work hard, don’t compare yourselves to others, and strive to be-> Continue reading FLORIDA DANCE WORKSHOP AUGUST 2017! DANCENEWS!